Fire extinguishing system



Filed June 28, 1965 ATTORNEY R m E V m 3 \on Ymm E N @N .Am m 4/ R \3 United States Patent 3,331,442 FIRE EX'HNGEHSENG SYSTEM Edmund C. Barbara, 55 Hillandale Road, Port Chester, N.Y. 10573 Filed June 28, 1965, Ser. No. 467,441 11 Claims. (Cl. 169-17) ABS'IRACT OF THE DISCLUSURE A fire extinguishing device having a water distributing manifold with inflatable means within the manifold for sealing the same yet operative to allow the manifold to dispense water in response to an elevation in temperature.

An object of this invention is to provide an improved sprinkler type fire extinguishing system, wherein novel means is used to seal the water inlet means from the perforated spray manifold.

Another object of this invention is to provide in a sprinkler system of the character described, sealing means which may be quickly changed between sealing and nonsealing conditions so as to readily restore the system to its normal condition as soon as temperatures incident to an extinguished fire are restored to normal.

A further object of this invention is to provide in a fire extinguishing system of the character described, water seal means including an inflatable element which may be quickly deflated in response to a rise in temperature so as to activate the sprinkler system, yet may be reinflated as soon as temperature conditions permit, so as to restore the system to a normal sealed condition.

Still another object of this invention is to provide in a system of the character described, improved control means for deflating and inflating the inflatable water seal means, automatically in response to given temperature conditions.

Other objects of this invention will in part be obvious and in part hereinafter pointed out.

In the drawing,

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view with parts in section and parts broken away showing a fire extinguishing sprinkler system embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a transverse sectional view similar to that of FIG. 2, showing the inflatable water seal in its deflated, collapsed condition; and

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view thereof;

FIG. 5 is a partial schematic view showing an alternative form of control means for the sprinkler system.

Referring in detail to the drawing, designates a fire extinguishing means of the sprinkler type, embodying the invention. The same comprises an elongated tubular manifold 11 formed with spaced perforations 12 in the wall 13 thereof.

Water under pressure is admitted into manifold 11 by way of water inlet means 14 extending at right angles to manifold 11 and in communicating relation thereto. A control shut-off valve 15 is mounted in inlet means 14 adjacent the juncture thereof with manifold 11.

Control means is provided for sealing manifold means Patented July 18, 1967 11 against the ingress of water from inlet means 14, at normal temperatures, but being operative at elevated temperatures produced by fire or the like, to allow water to pass from inlet means 14 into manifold 11 and out through perforations 12 therein, to provide sprinkler means for extinguishing the fire.

To this end, said control means comprises an elongated, flexible, inflatable tubular member 16 of rubber or the like, disposed within manifold 11 and extending from one end 17 of manifold 11 sealed by cap 18 and a gasket 19, towards the other end thereof and spanning by a wall portion 20 thereof, the juncture of inlet means 14 and manifold 11.

Inflatable member 16 is normally maintained in an inflated condition at a given pressure which is somewhat higher than the normal water pressure in inlet means 14. To this end a T member 21 has an arm 22 thereof inserted into the other end portion 23 of member 16 which is coextensive with end 24 of manifold 11. A conventional electric motor operated air compressor pump generally indicated at 25, supplies compressed air by way of an arm 26 of T member 21. Electric current for device 25 is supplied by a battery 27, through a normally closed thermoresponsive bimetallic switch 28. Thus under normal conditions, inflatable member 16 is maintained in an inflated condition so as to prevent water from inlet 14 passing into manifold 11; the pump 25 supplying compressed air to said member 16 automatically whenever the pressure therein drops below the given pressure.

Means is also provided for automatically deflating member 16 in the event that the temperature adjacent device 10 reaches a given value, as in the case of a fire or the like. To this end, the remaining arm 29 of T member 21 has an air valve 30 mounted therein, together with means for opening valve 30 at said given elevated temperature. Such means takes the form of a normally open mercury column switch 31, in circuit with current source 27 and a solenoid 32. Solenoid 32 includes an L shaped armature 33 for engaging valve stem 34 of valve 30 and actuating the same to open said valve when said solenoid 32 is energized.

Switch 31 includes a mercury column 35, which expands with a rise in temperature, and at a given temperature closes an electric circuit between contacts 36, 37 thereof, to thereby energize solenoid 32.

It will be apparent, that under normal conditions, pump 25 will be effective to keep member 16 fully inflated, as shown in FIGS. 1, 2, thereby keeping water from inlet 14, out of manifold 11.

However, when the temperature rises so as to close switch 31, valve stem 35 will be moved to open valve 30, and thereby deflate member 16, and to collapse the same, as indicated in FIGS. 3, 4. Water may then pass from inlet 14 to manifold 11 and thence through openings 12 therein to provide a sprinkler system for extinguishing the fire.

It will be understood that with the rise in temperature which is effective to close switch 31, the bimetallic switch 28 is opened at such temperature so as to deactivate pump 25 while member 16 is being deflated. When the fire is extinguished, and normal temperatures obtain, switch 28 will close to reactivate pump 25 while switch 31 opens to deenergize solenoid 32 and thus restore valve 30 to its closed position;

It is understood that manifold 11 may be extended as a gridiron or other pattern so as to effectively protect various areas of a building, warehouse or the like.

In FIG. is shown an alternative control system for the sprinkler manifold 11. The same comprises a thermoresponsive mercury bellows device generally indicated at 49 and mounted on T member 21. The device 44 comprises a cylinder 41 open at the opposite ends thereof for mounting therein a corrugated cylindrical container 42 which is fixed at its mid section 43 to opposed wall portions of cylinder 41, as by solder 44. Container 42 is filled with mercury 45 and closed at its opposite ends by end walls 46, 47.

It is understood that with changes in temperature the opposite bellows sections 48, 49 will expand and contract relative to fixed portion 43. A linkage 50 including an arm 51 secured at one end thereof to end wall 47 and an arm 52 pivoted at 53, is effective upon expansion of bellows section 49 in response to a rise in temperature to open normally closed air valve 30, so as to deflate member 16, as previously described and thus render the sprinkler system operative to pass water to manifold openings 12.

The bellows section 48 is effective upon expansion due to said elevated temperature conditions, to open a normally closed switch 54 in circuit with battery 27 and the electric motor operated air compessor pump 25, thereby rendering pump inoperative while member 16 is being deflated.

When temperatures are again at normal levels, then bellows sections 48, 49 will contract to their normal positions, to thereby simultaneously close air valve and to close switch 54 so as to energize pump 25 and thus reinflate member 16, and to maintain the same in an inflated condition as previously described.

As various changes might be made in the embodiments of the invention herein disclosed without departing from the spirit thereof, it is understood that all matter shown or described herein shall be deemed illustrative and made by way of limitation except as set forth in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. Sprinkler means comprising an elongated hollow member, water inlet means in communication with said hollow member, the wall portions of said hollow member being formed with perforations, means for sealing the perforations in said member and the connection between said water inlet means and said member, said sealing means comprising elongated inflatable means disposed within said hollow member, means for inflating said inflatable member for sealing the connection between said inlet means and the interior of said member, valve means on said inflatable member, and temperature responsive means operative at a predetermined temperature for ac-' tuating said valve means to deflate said inflatable means whereby water from said water inlet means may pass.

into the space between opposed wall portions of said inflatable member and said hollow member and outwardly thereof through the perforations of said hollow member.

2. Sprinkler means as in claim 1 wherein said inflating means comprises pump means for maintaining said in-' flatable member'at a given pressure, and means for deactivating said pump means in response to actuation of said valve means to deflate said inflatable member.

3. In combination, a tubular manifold member, water inlet means in communication with the interior of said tubular member, said tubular member being formed with spaced perforations in the wall thereof, tubular inflatable means within said tubular manifold member operative when in an inflated condition to seal off said inlet means from said tubular member, valve means on said inflatable member, and temperature responsive control means operative at a given elevated temperature to open said valve means to deflate said inflatable member and to form a space between the perforated tubular member and said deflated inflatable member which is in communication with said inlet means to thereby allow water from said inlet means to pass into said space and out through the perforations of said tubular member.

4. The combination as in claim 3 and further including pump means for inflating said inflatable member and second temperature responsive control means for said pump means Operative to inactivate said pump means at a given elevated temperature while said inflatable member is deflated.

5. The combination as in claim 4 wherein said first control means comprises solenoid means, a source of electric current and normally open temperature responsive switch means in circuit with said solenoid means and said current source, said solenoid means being operative on closing of said switch means to activate said valve means.

6. The combination as in claim 5 wherein said second temperature responsive control means comprises electric motor means for operating said pump means, temperature responsive switch means in circuit with said motor means and said current source, said last mentioned switch means being normally closed and opening upon closing of said first mentioned switch means.

7. Fire extinguishing means comprising a perforated water distributing manifold, water inlet means on said manifold located intermediate the opposite ends thereof, inflatable means within said manifold having wall portions for sealing the connection between said inlet means and said manifold when said inflatable means is in its inflated condition, normally closed valve means on said inflatable member, and temperature responsive means operative at a predetermined elevated temperature to open said valve means and to thereby deflate said inflatable member whereby to establish communication between said water inlet means and said manifold.

8. Fire extinguishing means as in claim 7 wherein said temperature responsive means comprises solenoid means for actuating said valve means, a source of electric current and normally open temperature responsive switch means in circuit with said solenoid and current source,

said switch means being operative at a predetermined.

elevated temperature to close and thereby energize said solenoid whereby to open said valve means and to deflate said inflatable means.

9. Fire extinguishing means as in claim 7, wherein said temperature responsive means comprises thermally expansible means operatively connected to said valve means whereby expansion of said thermally expansible means in response to elevated temperature conditions will open said valve means to deflate said inflatable means.

10. Sprinkler means comp-rising a tubular manifold member having water inlet means and spaced perforations in the wall thereof, inflatable means within said manifold" member for sealing said perforations from said inlet means when said inflatable means 'is in its inflated condition, normally closed valve means in said inflatable means, means for inflating said inflatable member, temperature responsive means for controlling said inflating means and said valve means, said temperature responsive means comprising thermaily expansible means, first means operatively connecting said thermally expansible means to said valve means for opening said valve means in response to thermal expansion of said thermally expansible means to thereby deflate said inflatable means, and second means connecting said thermally expansible'means to said inflating means for rendering said inflating means inoperative in response to thermal expansion of said thermally expansible means when said valve means is opened and rendering said inflating means operative in response to contraction of said thermally expansible means to thereby reinfiate said inflatable member.

11. Sprinkler means as in claim 10 wherein said thermally expansible means comp-rises mercury filled bellows means, means for fixing a mid portion of said bellows means against movement while permitting opposite longitudinal sections thereof to expand and contract with changes in temperature, said first means comprising linkage means interconnecting the outer end of one of said bellows sections with said valve means, said second means comprising motor means for actuating said inflating means, a source of electric energy and normally closed 10 switch means in circuit with said motor means and cur- References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 6/1900 Gilain 25161 5/1947 Van Horten 169-17 EVERETT W. KIRBY, Primary Examiner. 

1. SPRINKLE MEANS COMPRISING AN ELONGATED HOLLOW MEMBER, WATER INLET MEANS IN COMMUNICATION WITH SAID HOLLOW MEMBER, THE WALL PORTIONS OF SAID HOLLOW MEMBER BEING FORMED WITH PERFORATIONS, MEANS FOR SEALING THE PERFORATIONS IN SAID MEMBER AND THE CONNECTION BETWEEN SAID WATER INLET MEANS AND SAID MEMBER, SAID SEALING MEANS COMPRISING ELONGATED INFLATABLE MEANS DISPOSED WITHIN SAID HOLLOW MEMBER, MEANS FOR INFLATING SAID INFLATABLE MEMBER FOR SEALING THE CONNECTION BETWEEN SAID INLET MEANS AND THE INTERIOR OF SAID MEMBER, VALVE MEANS ON SAID INFLATABLE MEMBER, AND TEMPERATURE RESPONSIVE MEANS OPERATIVE AT A PREDETERMINED TEMPERATURE FOR ACTUATING SAID VALVE MEANS TO DEFLATE SAID INFLATABLE MEANS WHEREBY WATER FROM SAID WATER INLET MEANS MAY PASS INTO THE SPACE BETWEEN OPPOSED WALL PORTIONS OF SAID INFLATABLE MEMBER AND SAID HOLLOW MEMBER AND OUTWARDLY THEREOF THROUGH THE PERFORATIONS OF SAID HOLLOW MEMBER. 